Optionally, for an additional $24.95, you may purchase a family pass good for up to 4 adult family members (Mom, Dad, Older Siblings, Grandma, Grandpa or an Adult Babysitter) to bowl 2 games of bowling every day during the promotion all summer long along with the children that have registered in your family.

If you're outside of Morris County, follow this link to see if there is a participating bowling alley near you, as this is a nationwide promotion!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

4/23 Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Real Life Church (open to all) at Veteran's Memorial Park in Parsippany at 3 pm sharp.

4/23 Largest Easter Egg Hunt in Morris County with 5,000 eggs (free!). Meet at Gazebo Field on Main Street in Chester at 10:30 am for the hunt. Attendees can also enjoy live music and comedy from a clown and visit the Easter Bunny.

Since you now have a rather cute cylindrical bunny decoration, if you have the toilet paper rolls and the stamina, you could potentially make enough for each place setting for your Easter dinner and put the silverware into them. My bunny is going to be an only child, though.

Friday, April 15, 2011

I haven't found a kid in the under five set yet who didn't love trains. My daughter is obsessed with them - she loves to watch Thomas on TV and, while not intellectually stimulating, I don't find it as annoying as a lot of other cartoons.

Anyway, what could be better for the Easter season than the bunny riding on a train? The Whippany Railway Museum runs an Easter train on April 16, 17 and 23 @ 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm. The ride runs about 45 minutes and provides infinite amusements, including the train itself, staring out the windows, peeking over the seats at all the kids around you, being visited by the Bunny himself and having other Easter characters come around and hand you little trinkets. The ride is free for lap-sitters, $8 for kids under 13 and $13 for those over 13.

Mom2Mom: While this isn't cheap, it's a great photo op, far less annoying than waiting in line to see the Bunny at the mall, because a) you're sitting b) he comes to you c) your kid most likely won't be grouchy because it's an all-around amusing/interesting outing.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

It was another rainy day today - so much for springtime walks in the park!

When last we took our toddler to Chuck E Cheese's, she was around a year and a half old and was not interested in the least. She basically cowered, which was no fun for anyone.

Upon entering this time, the greeter stamped both me and my toddler with a stamp that was only visible under a blacklight - the baby got a sticker with the same stamp that could be put on the stroller. These stamps are checked when you leave to ensure you're leaving with the right kid. There was no admission fee. All of the games require tokens. Tokens can be purchased via machines or token packages can be purchased at the restaurant counter.

The games were toddler-appropriate with a slide and some achievable games of shorter stature. My daughter's favorite game involved touching a TV screen to pop bubbles, and another game where you push down on a big lever and a barrage of balls fly up in the air and hopefully into a hopper, so you can get tickets. Also, there was a cute portrait machine that you sit in for a picture - for only one token it prints your picture onto a credit card-like kid's card. There was free play area with tunnels and climbing, but it was too challenging for my not-yet three year old.

Tired from trying all of the games and running up and down a free toddler-sized slide, we retired to a booth and enjoyed our pizza, wrapping up the day by gathering up our points/tickets and getting a substantial lollipop, a plastic bracelet and a quartet of neon stickers. There were large-sized singing animals on the stage at the front which the kids found entertaining and a live appearance by the Cheese himself was another fun happening.

Mom2Mom: Coupons for Chuck E. Cheese's appear regularly in the Sunday coupon circulars. I used a coupon which entitled me to 30 game tokens, 1 large pizza with 1 topping and 3 fountain drinks for $19.99. We stayed for two and a half hour's worth of entertainment in a clean, safe and fun environment, which also included a pizza lunch that fed two adults and a toddler with some to spare (the other toddler is anti-pizza). I think it was a great deal!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

I'm thinking I'm not alone in having underutilized exercise equipment. Today was a rainy day, so after naps, we went downstairs to the office where my elliptical machine lives a lonely life.

I dragged in my baby's horse jumperoo and my toddler's small trampoline was also temporarily parked there for the winter. I set the girls up into their stations, turned some music on and we all "exercised" together. My toddler and I called out words of encouragement to each other and the baby.

It was fun and funny,and best of all it was a great pick-me-up on a rainy day. I posted a pic of my Fisher-Price Galloping Fun Jumperoo which is holding strong on kid #2 and I like the idea of simulating a horse ride - it just makes the whole jumping experience seem more authentic, ya know?

Friday, April 8, 2011

Today we attended music class at Adath Shalom - yes, a synagogue on Mountain Way in Morris Plains. I had some trepidation as I did at St. Ann's, because although raised Roman Catholic, I don't like to be hit over the head with religion and in this case, it wasn't even my religion. That being said, this was not to be an issue - the music was non-religious and there was no push to join the synagogue.

We arrived and found a group of mommy minivans in the back lot, so I parked alongside them and got my tribe out. Thanks to another mom we made our way to a classroom - a non-assuming room that didn't scream music. We sat in a circle (I guess with little kids that's just how it goes - there are no squares). And, that's when the fun began. The leader, Carol, WAS the instrument and if she was a song, she'd be the one that goes, "...cause my friends are your friends and your friends are my friends, the more we get together the happier we are." When they say, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord" - well, that's just her speaking voice, as she emotes fun, comfort and happiness. She made us feel immediately welcomed, without singling us out and making us feel like outsiders. She just asked the kids names and proceeded.

We clapped, we sang, we danced. At one point, she snuck in a cool lesson about micro and macro rhythms. During the dancing she offered just enough guidance to make sure we were moving and the kids were trying different movements. The ending was a comforting close of fingerplay to several songs, hugging and quiet with the lights dimmed.

Mom2Mom: It was great - my shy toddler was hugging her and kept repeating, "Bye Friends!" at the end of it. It WAS a religious experience (in the non-religious sense). Classes are held most Fridays at 9:45 AM in Morris Plains/Parsippany and are $15/class (drop-ins welcome!), with the first introductory class free. To register contact Marla at mkatz@adathshalom.net.